The sound of static didn't go away.
It crawled along the tree line like fog through a wire mesh, faint but undeniable—wrong in a way nothing natural ever is. And the scout? He smiled.
Not wide. Not cruel. Just… knowing.
3830 swore under her breath, already halfway into the brush with her back low, eyes scanning the trees.
Evelyn tilted her head. "I'm guessing we're not alone anymore," she murmured, almost like she was surprised it had taken this long.
"Everyone," I said, my voice sharp and immediate, "grab what you can. Move."
Camille pulled her bag onto one shoulder, wincing as the motion jerked her newly reset arm. "Not even a minute to rest?" she muttered.
"Wouldn't be us if we did," Alexis said, slinging her salvaged gear over her back. She was bleeding from the arm, but it was shallow—more bark than blade.
Sienna moved to lift Camille.
"I'm fine," Camille said, limping two steps forward to prove it.
"You're not," Sienna growled, but she let her walk anyway.
